Wilmington council might hold off on window signs crackdown

Friday

Sep 30, 2011 at 3:21 PM

Controversy over the city's recent crackdown on signs in storefront windows has prompted one councilman to take action.

By Shelby SebensShelby.Sebens@StarNewsOnline.com

Controversy over the city's recent crackdown on signs in storefront windows has prompted one councilman to take action.Ron Sparks, who is up for re-election in November, plans to introduce a resolution during the council's regular meeting Tuesday that would suspend enforcement of a regulation that prohibits businesses from covering up more than 10 percent of their storefronts with signs. The suspension would be for 30 days to find out if the rule is really necessary."We can work this sign thing out and again ask the key question, ‘Why are we doing it?'" Sparks said. The city recently sent letters to the business owners requiring that they come into compliance with the sign ordinance or face a $100 fine for the first day of violation and $200 each day after that. Some merchants want the city council to change the law to allow for more signs in downtown windows.Sparks said he has talked to four council members who are willing to consider the resolution. Business owners say they were blindsided by the city's enforcement of the rule and that it keeps them from promoting downtown events. Sparks said the sign regulation was part of a larger cleaning up of the city's codes that dealt with issues such as height restriction. "This little element went past everybody, I think," he said of the sign regulations. Sparks said holding off on enforcement will also give the city time to meet with downtown business owners to hear their concerns. "We're here to listen," he said.

Shelby Sebens: 343-2076Twitter: @ShelbySebens

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